The sun., 1887-05-01
MUSKRAT HUNTING.
Sport AlOnG the Patuxens River KNllns
these Intelligent Rsdents.
From ths Bauimors Sun.

Muskrat shooting is a sport which Ia nt.
tracting considerable attention now and is
sM Ssns ts sss Ss Il nd ea v.s shs
proaeh OF spring that the season fully opons
Tho largo area of marsh land along the Patux.
hunting grounds for muskrats. and they are
now being captured in large numbers: Next 70
nsenoHs Of e rodepts IN tho sns =
%Sss Is AS
i opded hsh e eeoH out WheRh RSsaesa eies
% T Se rSsr sds
able, positions that are favorable. After deter
mining upon the exact position Of their house.
upon which the house Is to. be erected.
their dwelling G HSs tai eanes rsa and coarse rs
marsh grass nro cut down and pulled in place,
end thS marsh mud i used y Hind NOR;
the ground floor arranged on a level with tho
leads. leads. ,,,. THIS CON %eonpieted. an upward lead Is
which Is made into room similar to tho first,
but OF less circumference;, third and some:
ns lss sGs na " bs sh hs sh sss s
OF the house. each succeeding room being Il
some semewnRi ISIoL less diameter ths r2o e
regulated by, the successive heights reached
tan mt the % hehsst tVp M fss
rats are social in their habits and at extreme
low cub. whom the accommodations are great
and a The hut It hood ss ieMsi s Ps
found IN any one house US the aceommoda.
WRcS but shs apnes srs % lis
MORE sssiS secured BY the hPnter
spssrIns Gfew% % may E. y secarea a nisSt %
cropping as noiselesaly as possible along tho
hs afa fo
dainty. Having secured favorite root, they
Il and ruS III the mud n Dip i f ssn
again until 1t is perfectly clean and suited 10
dssajt Their t.; taste; when u eaten With evI:
walt. 4 hoat. however, is usually used. -
,s ss on Ss sns s Mo p
sons. occupy the same boat, the sportsman 70.
Insher crs In IN the orosR
ihe VIZ must Se eon,psratlyeIy clear ia e o1ds;
that the sportsman may haze the advantage o1
hf sssstor
times used on the bow Of tho boat, and this ar.
T. t1eGaEsnt quite DUR
acquainted with tho hunting grouyds. W."
bmraIpinE Is amoshsr o5 TIC modes by which
long. These are nailed together like an ordi.
s@naa1s dooors viz nstwsrR
tho upper part Of both entrances. These doors
allow easy inSress to tho trap, but, once In, the
puns 70 M which sscres tRsy see seem VIZ
slow to discover These traps are put In the leads
running from the houses 70 the wSter when
the tide Is at low ebb. and tho rats are out feed.
push against. one OF tho wire doors Of the trap.
cannot 80 farther, as the next door opens TO.
ana q and Va astshPPs P
tideS sI9;seiy,, - ,. trspper can capture large
epearinR. -Four or Ave rods Of iron three Of
four foa test long are secured IN GROSS section
Ms aS w b. as hs hrss
and Il siarmed viii auistiy u run IN doSwsa; ddSs;
tss arA and rIA out Into
house. .6e reaches up oysr t. and
e ss. ssa !. pSsS M tko% With p!SS hs pulls is the
py Ro psa W0rS %dPDpa RPpSa
however, not looked upon, with favor by sports.
a. tsRds to drive the rats
rat Is somewhat similar In appearance to his
dry land cousin, but is fnconparably larger.
The brown muskrat which Is larger than the
e1Sf nss %hin shs 'ss M e ss e
OF the tall. and his rat.llko .caudal eppendags
sGmssimes attsins spGthh Of Slght Inches
snsh nsS and so esS
OF tho muskrat IL said to he quite pal.
atable, and i Is sometimes e9ten; These rive,
iasiosel IN il,is fatty sack just I pDder D % tss
skin In tho lower part Of tho body Tho musk.
raj season opens oarly In winter and closes IN
May. The season IA now ut its height.